Month: January 2017

(Greeley– February, 2016) – High Plains Library District (HPLD) is proud to be a community partner with 21 different non-profit organizations through our technology donation program. On January 25, 2016 HPLD distributed 113 desktop all-in-one computers, 11 laptops and 6 iPads to 21 Weld County nonprofit agencies whose services include but are not limited to: youth sports, education/tutoring/mentoring, independent living resources for the disabled, senior community center, employment solutions for the hard-to-employ, healthcare to those in need, animal welfare, science/math education, music and the arts.

HPLD uses a systematic computer replacement schedule to update computers throughout the entire library system. “Maintaining our technology is vital to the services we provide,” said Kelli Johnson, spokeswoman for High Plains. “In addition, HPLD is deeply committed to being a leader in environmental efficiency by using renewable energy, recycling and otherwise minimizing our impact on the environment.” added Johnson.

Through the technology donation program HPLD is able to repurpose nearly 100% of the equipment replaced. Donations of the gently used technology is done through an online application process. In order to qualify to receive a donation, your organization must be: a non-profit or school, within the HPLD service area (Weld County & Erie), able to purchase OS replacements, and able to pick up the donation.

For more information about the technology replacement program please visit www.MyLibrary.us/foundation.

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The High Plains Library District connects communities to information, inspiration and entertainment for life. HPLD includes libraries in Greeley, Evans, Firestone, Erie, Kersey, Ault, Eaton, Johnstown, Platteville, Hudson and Fort Lupton.

(Greeley– April 27, 2016) – On Monday the Colorado Supreme Court denied the Weld County Commissioners’ petition asking the Supreme Court to hear arguments seeking to reverse the Colorado Court of Appeals decision about the High Plains Library District Trustees (HPLD). By this action, the Supreme Court allows the Court of Appeals’ unanimous decision in HPLD’s favor to stand.

“This is good news,” said Janine Reid, Executive Director for High Plains. “This ruling along with previous court opinions affirm that the High Plains Library District Board of Trustees operates in accordance with the established governing policies and should remain seated.”

This ruling comes after months of being in the hands of the Colorado Supreme Court, but stems all the way back to 2014. HPLD is made up of two different types of libraries: branch libraries, governed by the HPLD Board, and member libraries, each governed by their own local boards and policies. This dual governance structure gave rise to policy disagreements in 2013, ultimately resulting in an attempt by the Weld County Commissioners and several local leaders of member libraries to unseat the entire HPLD Board. In 2014-2015 the Weld County District Court ruled in HPLD’s favor, finding that the HPLD Board was acting in accordance with established bylaws and there was no good cause to remove all of HPLD’s trustees. Last July, the Court of Appeals ruled that the Weld County District Court acted corrected to enjoin the removal.

“While we are delighted with the Supreme Court’s ruling we are also eager to move forward,” said Reid. “I am hopeful that all parties in this case are eager to find resolution. Ideally we can work swiftly now to discuss settlement options and/or determine how we can resolve this situation.”

The case has now been returned to the Weld County District Court for further proceedings to resolve the case on its merits.

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The High Plains Library District connects communities to information, inspiration and entertainment for life. HPLD includes libraries in Greeley, Evans, Firestone, Erie, Kersey, Ault, Eaton, Johnstown, Platteville, Hudson and Fort Lupton.

Greeley– September, 2016) – The Great Depression was one of the most difficult times in our nation’s history. Food was scarce, jobs were non-existent and life was tough all the way around. In an effort to rebuild our nation President Franklin D. Roosevelt enacted the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1933. The CCC was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men ages 17-25 years old from relief families. The CCC was part of the New Deal in which young men were promised “a dollar-a-day” for their work. In Colorado alone more than 57,000 men served in the CCC.

The story of the “dollar-a-day boys” gives fresh perspective on what it means to put in a hard days work, and what it means to recover from severe poverty. Michigan based author Bill Jamerson will present a music and storytelling program about the Civilian Conservation Corps at the Farr Regional Library in Greeley, on Friday, September 16, at noon.

Dressed in uniform, Jamerson will share stories about the CCC, reads excerpts from his book, show video clips from his PBS film and sing original songs with his guitar. It’s a nostalgic, fun-filled program with songs, laughter and many heartfelt stories. The program is as entertaining as it is important; as honest as it is fun. It’s about people both ordinary and extraordinary; with stories of strength, wit and charm.

One of the many CCC camps in operation included camp Island Grove which opened up on July 26, 1934, 1.5 miles northwest of Greeley. The camps were run by the army with an average of 34 camps in operation in Colorado each year. Over 63 million dollars was spent operating the camps. The C’s (enrollees) were paid $1 a day with $25 sent home to their families each month. The money provided relief for their families who were desperate for food and basic necessities. While enrolled in the CCC the men came into town on weekends, and patronized stores, movie theaters, billiard rooms, bowling alleys, saloons, dance halls, and churches. The enrollees spent approximately $5,000 a month in nearby communities, helping the local economy during the depths of The Great Depression.

The C’s constructed hundreds of miles of roads, built bridges, worked on soil erosion control, were active in reforestation, and worked on grazing control operations that restored grass and water to vast stretches of land for cattle and sheep grazing. They constructed Rocky Mountain National Park, the Colorado National Monument, Mesa Verda National Park and Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre.

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Since 1992, Bill Jamerson has researched the CCC. He produced a documentary for Michigan PBS, recorded a CD of songs, and wrote a historical novel.

He presents “Dollar-A-Day Boys” all across the Midwest. Over 2.5 million men enlisted in the corps and today, their children and grandchildren have a keen interest in it. Jamerson’s book, BIG SHOULDERS is a historical novel that follows a year in the life of a seventeen-year-old youth from Detroit who enlisted in the C’s in 1937. He joins two hundred other young men at a work camp in a remote part of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It is a coming-of-age story of an angry teenager who faces the rigors of hard work, learning to cope with a difficult sergeant and fending off a bully. The book is based on the life of a CCC Boy.

Along with a novel and CD of songs, Jamerson produced the film, Camp Forgotten-The CCC in Michigan, which aired on 58 PBS stations. In the program, Bill will talk about many of the interesting enrollees he has met over the years. A question and answer period and book signing will follow the presentation. People are encouraged to bring CCC photos or memorabilia to the program.

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The High Plains Library District connects communities to information, inspiration and entertainment for life. HPLD includes libraries in Greeley, Evans, Firestone, Erie, Kersey, Ault, Eaton, Johnstown, Platteville, Hudson and Fort Lupton.